Sink strainer



prl'14, 1942.-

J. S. JUDELLErAL SINK-STRAINER Filed May 9, 1941 ATTORLYQS.

Panarea Apr. 14, 1942 SINK STRAINER Julius S. Judell and Jerome P. Goodenough, Shorewood, Wis., assignors to Milwaukee Flush Valve Company, Milwaukee, Wis.; a lcorpora.-

ton of Wisconsin Application May 9, 1941, Serial No. 392,644

4 Claims.` (Cl. 4-288) The present invention relates generally to improvements in plumbing fixtures, and relates more specically to improvements in the construction and operation of devices for removing debris from the liquid delivered from a wash basin, sink or the like.

, An object of the invention. is to provide an improved strainer for sinks or the like, which is simple and durable in construction, which may be conveniently and effectively applied to a -sink or wash basin, and which is moreover highly efcient in use.

Perhaps the most popular sink strainer now in use for the purpose of removing debris such as garbage from the liquid which is drained from kitchen sinks or the like, is the type shown in Judell Patent 1,811,852, granted June 30, 1931. This strainer comprises in general, a cup-shaped cast-metal main casing adapted to be suspended through a hole in the sink bottom by means of a relatively wide integral peripheral external flange at the upper casing end, a strainer basket constructed of sheet metal and formed for removable suspension within the fixed main casing, and a stop plug adjustably supported from the bottom of the basket and being cooperable with a central opening in the lower portion of the main casing to control the delivery of liquid from the sink basin. In order to clamp the main casing to the sink, it has heretofore been customary to cause the integral upper casing ange to directly engage an upper surface of the sink bottom, and to provide a clamping ring cooperable through a gasket with a lower surface of the sink and coacting with external screw threads on the cast casing. The relatively wide upper surface of the integral casing flange was therefore exposed to view at all times, and it was necessary to heavily plate this constantly exposed surface of the ange to correspond with the finish of the strainer basket and of the other sink fixtures. Due to the frequent normal use of scouring powder and the like, it required extremely heavy plating of these upper exposed flange surfaces, and while the external lower surfaces of the main casing were never exposed and the other internal and upper surfaces were seldom exposed to view for any great length' of time, it was necesary in order to facilitate the plating operation, to plate and nish a considerable portion of the entire outer surface of the cast casing at relatively great expense, thus also wasting plating stock. The strainer baskets can be formed of stainless steel in order to avoid plating, but the main casing is preferably constructed of cast metal due to the application of screw threads thereto and must therefore be plated, and since these castings are relatively thin, the integral suspension flanges are also rather thin and frail, and sometimes break when the clamping pressure is applied. For these reasons considerable difficulty was heretofore encountered with the prior sink strainer assemblages of this particular and most popular type.

It is therefore a more specific object of our present invention to provide improved suspension means for the main casings of these basket type sink strainers, whereby all of the above mentioned diiculties are eliminated, and which can be manufactured and sold at moderate cost without inferior appearance.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide a new and useful attachment for firmly securing a sink strainer or the like to a wash basin, in a neat and expeditious manner and without danger of breaking or otherwise damaging the basin or the fastening elements. A further specific object of the present invention is to provide an improvedclamping assemblage for rigidly suspending a strainer casing from the bottom of a kitchen sink or the like, which can be constructed of sheet metal and at minimum cost, and which will present a neat and highly finished appearance at all times.

Still another specific object of our invention is to provide an improved mode of producing durable and highly finished clamping rings for the main casings of basket type sink strainers, from the same stock used in the formation of the baskets and without wasting materials.

An additional specific object of the invention is to provide an improved sheet metal clamping ring for fastening a strainer assemblage to its supporting structure, without danger of damaging the enamel or other coating on the structure.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of an embodiment of our invention, and of the mode of producing the improved sink strainer assemblages, may be Ahad by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. l is la top view of one of our improved basket type sink strainer assemblages, portions thereof having been broken away in order to reveal lower parts;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through a partially assembled perspective view of the strainer unit; and' Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the fully assembled unit, showing the same attached to a fragment of its normal support.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as being speciically embodied in a basket type kitchen sink strainer assemblage having a cast metal main casing and a sheet metal basket detachably cooperable therewith, it is not our desire or intent to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope or the utility of the improvement.

Referring to the drawing, the improved sink strainer unit shown therein, comprises in general, a main annular cast-metal cup-shaped casing 6 having an upper outwardly extending peripheral rim and a lower central liquid discharge duct 8 provided with an annular tapered plug seat 9 at its upper end; a cup-shaped sheetmetal strainer basket IIJ provided with a multiplicity of perforations II and having an upper outwardly directed peripheral ange I2 adapted to rest upon the upper extremity of the main casing 6, while its lower central portion is provided with a fixed hub I3 having a bore formed with slots I4 extending therealong; a disk-like stopper plug I5 formed for sealing coaction with the seat 9, and being vertically adjustably suspended from the lower end of an upright stem I 6, the upper end of which has a manipulating knob and the medial portion of which is provided with radial suspension lugs I8 movable along the slots I4 and adapted to coact with the top of the hub I3 when the elevated stem I6 is rotated; an annular sheet-metal main casing suspension flange or ring I9 having an inner depressed edge 2|) formed to receive the casing rim 1, and also having a relatively wide approximately plane outer portion adapted to rest upon an upper surface of the basin bottom 2|; and a clamping ring 22 adjustable along screw threads 23 formed on the main casing 6 directly beneath the rim and normally coacting through a gasket 24 and a pliable sealing washer 25 with the lower surface of the sink bottom 2|.

The main cast-metal casing 6 is of relatively thin formation throughout, and the upper enlarged part of this casing provides a cup-like space within which the basket l0 is adapted to be vertically removably and centrally suspended with the aid of the basket flange I2, so that the sides and bottom of the basket will not contact the casing interior. The exterior of the lower extremity of the casing 6, surrounding the discharge duct 8, is provided with other screw threads 26 adapted for coaction with a coupling ring 21 associated with a drain pipe 28, and the delivery end of the duct 8 is ordinarily provided with a perforated secondary strainer plate 29, as shown in Fig. 3. Since the main casing is normally totally concealed, it need not be highly ilnished.

Both the strainer basket I0 and the casing suspension ring I9 may be formed of sheet-metal of the same gauge, and in order to avoid necessity of plating, these elements may be produced from stainless-steel or other non-corrosive metal capable of taking a polish. The basket I8 and ring I9 may be constructed with the aid of punches and dies, and in accordance with one feature of our invention, both of these elements may be formed from the same sheet of metal by utilizing the stock which surrounds the blank from which the basket I0 is made, to form the blank for the tion oi the sheet metall elements will be reduced to a minimum.

The internally bored and slotted hub I3 may be rigidly secured centrally within the basket I0 in any suitable manner, and the stopper I5 which is adapted to coact with the annular seat 9 may be formed of cast metal and secured to the lower end of the stem I6 in any suitable manner, as by riveting. The top of manipulating knob I1 which is secured to the upper end of the stem I6, preferably lies flush with or beneath the plane of the top of the basket I0 when the stop plug I5 is elevated as in Figs. 2 and 3; and the retainer lugs I8 on the stem I 6 are adapted to either rest upon the upper end of the hub I3, or they may be slid downwardly through the slots I4 to thereby p ermit seating of the plug against the casing seat 9. The knob I1 besides serving as means for manipulating the stopper plug I5, also serves to effect bodily removal of the basket I0 from the main casing 6, and the latter is permanently attached to the sink.

The sheet metal clamping ilange or ring I9 is relatively thin and flexible, and the inner depressed edge 20 of this ring should be formed for snug coaction with the casing ridge or rim and to permit the uppermost end of the main casing 6 to lie slightly below the plane of the upper surface of the sink bottom 2|. The upper surface of the flange ring I9 should lie approximately flush with the upper surface of the basin bottom 2| when clamping has been effected, and when the clamping ring 22 is finally adjusted upwardly along the casing threads 23 to force the pliable sealing ring into snug coaction with the lower surface of the sink bottom 2| as in Fig. 3, the ilange ring I9 may deflect slightly and will thus snugly engage the opposite upper surface of the bottom 2|.

When the various parts of the improved strainer assemblage have been properly constructed as above described, it is a simple matter to attach the unit to a sink or other basin having a receiving opening in the bottom 2| thereof. Upon removal of the clamping ring 22, gasket 24 and washer 25, the casing 6 with the flange ring I9 applied thereto, may be dropped through the receiving opening in the sink bottom 2|, whereupon the washer 25, gasket 24, and clamping ring 22 may be applied about the casing 6 as shown in Fig. 3. When the clamping ring 22 is nally driven home, a liquid tight joint will be produced between the sink and strainer, by the ilange ring I9 and pliable sealing washer 25. The drain pipe 28 may be subsequently connected to the casing 6 with the aid of the coupling ring 21 whereupon the assemblage is ready for normal use. Such use will be obvious from the foregoing detailed description.

From the above specific description it will be apparent that our present invention provides simple, durable and efficient means for rmly suspending a strainer casing 6 or the like, from an enamelled sink bottom or a similar support, without danger of damaging the enamel or other coating. The improved suspension means also provides a neat and eiective sealed joint, and eliminates necessity of plating or otherwise linishing the cast-metal casing. The suspension flange or ring I9 may be ilnishedin any desired manner at moderate cost, and can be produced from the same stock which is used in the formation of the basket I0, in order to reduce the cost and to eliminate waste of this stock. The use of sheet metal in the formation of the suspension ring I9, besides providing a exible suspension flange, eliminates objectionable breakage of these flanges as when formed integral with the casing 6, since the sheet metal ange ring I9 is formed separate from the main casing. By forming the ring I9 and basket IIJ of non-corrosive sheet metal, expensive plating and iinishing of these parts may be avoided, and the cost of manufacture of the strainer units is thereby minimized. The improved assemblages may be readily manufactured and installed by a novice, and are highly emcient and successful in actual use.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction, or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various modications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. In combination with a basin having a bottom provided with an opening and an annular recess disposed between the periphery of said opening and the adjacent upper surface of said bottom, a rigid cup-shaped casing having an integral upper outwardly projecting peripheral rim disposed within said opening beneath said recess, a relatively flexible suspension ange seated within said recess with its top surface approximately flush with said upper basin surface and having an integral inner portion extending downwardly between said opening and the periphery of said casing rim and projecting inwardly beneath the latter, and a clamping ring screw threaded for adjustment along the outer portion of said casing to force said iiange within said recess and said casing rim against said inwardly directed lowermost iiange portion.

2. In combination with a basin having a bottom provided with an opening and an annular recess disposed between the periphery of said opening and the adjacent upper surface of said bottom, a rigid cup-shaped casing having an integral upper outwardly projecting peripheral rim disposed within said opening beneath said recess, a relatively flexible suspension iiange seated within said recess with its top surface approximately ush with said upper basin surface and having an integral inner portion extending downwardly between said opening and the periphery of said casing rim and projecting inwardly beneath the latter, a clamping ring screw threaded for adjustment along the outer portion of said casing to force said ange within said recess and said casing rim against said inwardly directed lowermost flange portion, and a cup-shaped element adapted for disposition within said casing and having an outwardly flexible suspension flange.

3. In combination with a basin having a bottom provided with an opening and an annular recess disposed between the periphery of said opening and the adjacent upper surface of said bottom, a rigid cup-shaped casing having an integral upper outwardly projecting peripheral rim disposed within said opening beneath said recess, a relatively exible annular suspension ange seated within and substantially filling said recess and with its top surface approximately ush with said upper basin surface, said flange having an integral annular inner portion extending downwardly between said opening and the periphery of said casing rim and also having an integral annular inward projection at the lower end of said downwardly extending portion snugly embracing the adjacent wall of said casing and coacting with the bottom of said rim, and a clamping ring screw threaded for adjustment along the outer lower portion of said casing to simultaneously force said flange downwardly,

into said recess and said casing rim against said inward projection of said iiange.

4. In combination with a basin having a bottom provided with an opening and an annular recess disposed between the periphery of said opening and the adjacent upper surface of said bottom, a rigid cup-shaped casing having an integral upper outwardly projecting peripheral rim disposed within said opening beneath said recess, a relatively flexible annular suspension flange seated within and substantially filling said recess and with its topsurface approximately iiush with said upper basin surface, said iiange having an integral annular inner portion extending downwardly between said opening and the periphery of said casing rim and also having an integral annular inward projection at the lower end of said downwardly extending portion snugly embracing the adjacent wall of said casing and coacting with the bottom of said rim, a clamping ring screw threaded for adjustment along the outer lower portion of said casing to simultaneously force said flange downwardly into said recess and said casing rim against said inward projection of said flange, and a cup-shaped element adapted for disposition within said casing and having an outwardly directed upper annular flange resting upon the top oi' said casing rim within said inner annular portion and with its uppermost portion approximately ush with the top surface of said flexible suspension flange. l

JULIUS S. JUDELL. JEROME P. GOODENOUGH. 

